Speaker assembly for headworn computer

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the present invention relate to speaker assemblies for head worn computers.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. non-provisional applicationSer. No. 14/307,465, filed Jun. 17, 2014, and entitled “SPEAKER ASSEMBLYFOR HEADWORN COMPUTER”. U.S. Ser. No. 14/307,465 is acontinuation-in-part and claims the benefit of priority of U.S.non-provisional application Ser. No. 14/262,615, entitled TEMPLE AND EARHORN ASSEMBLY FOR HEADWORN COMPUTER, filed Apr. 25, 2014, now issued onOct. 13, 2015 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,158,116.

The above applications are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to head worn computing. More particularly, thisinvention relates to speaker assemblies for head worn computers.

Description of Related Art

Wearable computing systems have been developed and are beginning to becommercialized. Many problems persist in the wearable computing fieldthat need to be resolved to make them meet the demands of the market.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present invention relate to speaker assemblies for headworn computers.

These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages ofthe present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and thedrawings. All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated intheir entirety by reference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are described with reference to the following Figures. Thesame numbers may be used throughout to reference like features andcomponents that are shown in the Figures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a head worn computing system in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a head worn computing system with optical system inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C illustrate three views of a head worncomputer in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a temple and ear horn in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, FIG. 5D, FIG. 5E. and FIG. 5F illustrate atemple and ear horn assembly in various states in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an adjustable nose bridge assembly in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an adjustable nose bridge assembly in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates speaker assemblies for head-worn computers inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

While the invention has been described in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, other embodiments would be understood by one ofordinary skill in the art and are encompassed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Aspects of the present invention relate to head-worn computing (“HWC”)systems. HWC involves, in some instances, a system that mimics theappearance of head-worn glasses or sunglasses. The glasses may be afully developed computing platform, such as including computer displayspresented in each of the lenses of the glasses to the eyes of the user.In embodiments, the lenses and displays may be configured to allow aperson wearing the glasses to see the environment through the lenseswhile also seeing, simultaneously, digital imagery, which forms anoverlaid image that is perceived by the person as a digitally augmentedimage of the environment, or augmented reality (“AR”).

HWC involves more than just placing a computing system on a person'shead. The system may need to be designed as a lightweight, compact andfully functional computer display, such as wherein the computer displayincludes a high resolution digital display that provides a high level ofemersion comprised of the displayed digital content and the see-throughview of the environmental surroundings. User interfaces and controlsystems suited to the HWC device may be required that are unlike thoseused for a more conventional computer such as a laptop. For the HWC andassociated systems to be most effective, the glasses may be equippedwith sensors to determine environmental conditions, geographic location,relative positioning to other points of interest, objects identified byimaging and movement by the user or other users in a connected group,and the like. The HWC may then change the mode of operation to match theconditions, location, positioning, movements, and the like, in a methodgenerally referred to as a contextually aware HWC. The glasses also mayneed to be connected, wirelessly or otherwise, to other systems eitherlocally or through a network. Controlling the glasses may be achievedthrough the use of an external device, automatically throughcontextually gathered information, through user gestures captured by theglasses sensors, and the like. Each technique may be further refineddepending on the software application being used in the glasses. Theglasses may further be used to control or coordinate with externaldevices that are associated with the glasses.

Referring to FIG. 1, an overview of the HWC system 100 is presented. Asshown, the HWC system 100 comprises a HWC 102, which in this instance isconfigured as glasses to be worn on the head with sensors such that theHWC 102 is aware of the objects and conditions in the environment 114.In this instance, the HWC 102 also receives and interprets controlinputs such as gestures and movements 116 of body parts of a user. TheHWC 102 may communicate with external user interfaces 104. The externaluser interfaces 104 may provide a physical user interface to takecontrol instructions from a user of the HWC 102 and the external userinterfaces 104 and the HWC 102 may communicate bi-directionally toaffect the user's command and provide feedback to the external device108. The HWC 102 may also communicate bi-directionally with externallycontrolled or coordinated local devices 108. For example, an externaluser interface 104 may be used in connection with the HWC 102 to controlan externally controlled or coordinated local device 108. The externallycontrolled or coordinated local device 108 may provide feedback to theHWC 102 and a customized GUI may be presented in the HWC 102 based onthe type of device or specifically identified device 108. The HWC 102may also interact with remote devices and information sources 112through a network connection 110. Again, the external user interface 104may be used in connection with the HWC 102 to control or otherwiseinteract with any of the remote devices 108 and information sources 112in a similar way as when the external user interfaces 104 are used tocontrol or otherwise interact with the externally controlled orcoordinated local devices 108. Similarly, HWC 102 may interpret gestures116 (e.g captured from forward, downward, upward, rearward facingsensors such as camera(s), range finders, IR sensors, etc.) orenvironmental conditions sensed in the environment 114 to control eitherlocal or remote devices 108 or 112.

We will now describe each of the main elements depicted on FIG. 1 inmore detail; however, these descriptions are intended to provide generalguidance and should not be construed as limiting. Additional descriptionof each element may also be further described herein.

The HWC 102 is a computing platform intended to be worn on a person'shead. The HWC 102 may take many different forms to fit many differentfunctional requirements. In some situations, the HWC 102 will bedesigned in the form of conventional glasses. The glasses may or may nothave active computer graphics displays. In situations where the HWC 102has integrated computer displays the displays may be configured assee-through displays such that the digital imagery can be overlaid withrespect to the user's view of the environment 114. There are a number ofsee-through optical designs that may be used, including ones that have areflective display (e.g. LCoS, DLP), emissive displays (e.g. OLED, LED),hologram, TIR waveguides, and the like. In embodiments, lighting systemsused in connection with the display optics may be solid state lightingsystems, such as LED, OLED, quantum dot, quantum dot LED, etc. Inaddition, the optical configuration may be monocular or binocular. Itmay also include vision corrective optical components. In embodiments,the optics may be packaged as contact lenses. In other embodiments, theHWC 102 may be in the form of a helmet with a see-through shield,sunglasses, safety glasses, goggles, a mask, fire helmet withsee-through shield, police helmet with see through shield, militaryhelmet with see-through shield, utility form customized to a certainwork task (e.g. inventory control, logistics, repair, maintenance,etc.), and the like.

The HWC 102 may also have a number of integrated computing facilities,such as an integrated processor, integrated power management,communication structures (e.g. cell net, WiFi, Bluetooth, local areaconnections, mesh connections, remote connections (e.g. client server,etc.)), and the like. The HWC 102 may also have a number of positionalawareness sensors, such as GPS, electronic compass, altimeter, tiltsensor, IMU, and the like. It may also have other sensors such as acamera, rangefinder, hyper-spectral camera, Geiger counter, microphone,spectral illumination detector, temperature sensor, chemical sensor,biologic sensor, moisture sensor, ultrasonic sensor, and the like.

The HWC 102 may also have integrated control technologies. Theintegrated control technologies may be contextual based control, passivecontrol, active control, user control, and the like. For example, theHWC 102 may have an integrated sensor (e.g. camera) that captures userhand or body gestures 116 such that the integrated processing system caninterpret the gestures and generate control commands for the HWC 102. Inanother example, the HWC 102 may have sensors that detect movement (e.g.a nod, head shake, and the like) including accelerometers, gyros andother inertial measurements, where the integrated processor mayinterpret the movement and generate a control command in response. TheHWC 102 may also automatically control itself based on measured orperceived environmental conditions. For example, if it is bright in theenvironment the HWC 102 may increase the brightness or contrast of thedisplayed image. In embodiments, the integrated control technologies maybe mounted on the HWC 102 such that a user can interact with itdirectly. For example, the HWC 102 may have a button(s), touchcapacitive interface, and the like.

As described herein, the HWC 102 may be in communication with externaluser interfaces 104. The external user interfaces may come in manydifferent forms. For example, a cell phone screen may be adapted to takeuser input for control of an aspect of the HWC 102. The external userinterface may be a dedicated UI, such as a keyboard, touch surface,button(s), joy stick, and the like. In embodiments, the externalcontroller may be integrated into another device such as a ring, watch,bike, car, and the like. In each case, the external user interface 104may include sensors (e.g. IMU, accelerometers, compass, altimeter, andthe like) to provide additional input for controlling the HWD 104.

As described herein, the HWC 102 may control or coordinate with otherlocal devices 108. The external devices 108 may be an audio device,visual device, vehicle, cell phone, computer, and the like. Forinstance, the local external device 108 may be another HWC 102, whereinformation may then be exchanged between the separate HWCs 108.

Similar to the way the HWC 102 may control or coordinate with localdevices 106, the HWC 102 may control or coordinate with remote devices112, such as the HWC 102 communicating with the remote devices 112through a network 110. Again, the form of the remote device 112 may havemany forms. Included in these forms is another HWC 102. For example,each HWC 102 may communicate its GPS position such that all the HWCs 102know where all of HWC 102 are located.

FIG. 2 illustrates a HWC 102 with an optical system that includes anupper optical module 202 and a lower optical module 204. While the upperand lower optical modules 202 and 204 will generally be described asseparate modules, it should be understood that this is illustrative onlyand the present invention includes other physical configurations, suchas that when the two modules are combined into a single module or wherethe elements making up the two modules are configured into more than twomodules. In embodiments, the upper module 202 includes a computercontrolled display (e.g. LCoS, DLP, OLED, etc.) and image light deliveryoptics. In embodiments, the lower module includes eye delivery opticsthat are configured to receive the upper module's image light anddeliver the image light to the eye of a wearer of the HWC. In FIG. 2, itshould be noted that while the upper and lower optical modules 202 and204 are illustrated in one side of the HWC such that image light can bedelivered to one eye of the wearer, that it is envisioned by the presentinvention that embodiments will contain two image light deliverysystems, one for each eye. It should also be noted that while manyembodiments refer to the optical modules as “upper” and “lower” itshould be understood that this convention is being used to make iteasier for the reader and that the modules are not necessarily locatedin an upper-lower relationship. For example, the image generation modulemay be located above the eye delivery optics, below the eye deliveryoptics, on a side of the eye delivery optics, or otherwise positioned tosatisfy the needs of the situation and/or the HWC 102 mechanical andoptical requirements.

An aspect of the present invention relates to the mechanical andelectrical construction of a side arm of a head worn computer. Ingeneral, when a head worn computer takes the form of glasses,sun-glasses, certain goggles, or other such forms, two side arms areincluded for mounting and securing the had worn computer on the ear's ofa person wearing the head worn computer. In embodiments, the side armsmay also contain electronics, batteries, wires, antennas, computerprocessors, computer boards, etc. In embodiments, the side arm mayinclude two or more sub assemblies. For example, as will be discussed inmore detail below, the side arm may include a temple section and an earhorn section. The two sections may, for example, be mechanicallyarranged to allow an ear horn section to move such that both side armscan fold into a closed position.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C illustrate three separate views of a headworn computer 102 according to the principles of the present invention.Turning to the head worn computer illustrated as FIG. 3A, one side armof the HWC 102 is folded into its closed position. The ear horn section308 of the side arm is rotated relative to its temple section 304 tocreate space relative to the other side arm 310 so when the other sidearm is moved into its closed position it can fully close. In a situationwhere the ear horn did not rotate to create the space (not illustrated)the ear horn would physically interfere with the other side arm 310,when the side arm was in the closed position, and prevent the other sidearm 310 from fully closing. The HWC FIG. 3B view illustrates the HWCFIG. 3B with both side arms folded into a fully closed position. Notethat the ear horn 308 is in the rotated position with respect to itstemple section 304 such that the other arm 310 closed withoutinterfering with the ear horn 308. The HWC FIG. 3C view also illustratesboth arms in closed positions with the ear horn 308 rotated to createthe space for the other arm 310 to fully close. FIG. 3C also illustratesa portion of the HWC 102 where electronics may be housed in a top mount312. The top mount may contain electronics, sensors, optics, processors,memory, radios, antennas, etc.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side arm configuration in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention. In this embodiment, the side armincludes two sub assemblies: the temple section 304 and the ear horn308. FIG. 4 illustrates two views of the side arm assembly, one from anouter perspective and one from a sectioned perspective. The ear hornincludes a pin 402 that is designed to fit into a hole 404 and to besecured by connector 408. The connector 408 is rotatable and in oneposition locks the pin 402 in place and in another position unsecuresthe pin 402 such that the ear horn 308 can be removed and re-attached tothe temple section 304. This allows the detachment and re-attachment ofthe ear horn 308 from the temple section 304. This also allows for thesale of different ear horns 308 for replacement, of which a variety ofcolors and patterns may be offered. In embodiments, the temple section304 may include a battery compartment 410 and other electronics, wires,sensors, processors, etc.

FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, FIG. 5D, FIG. 5E. and FIG. 5F illustrateseveral views of a HWC side arm with temple 304 and ear horn 308sections. The views include outer perspectives and cross sections aswell as various states of the security of the ear horn 308 with thetemple section 304. One embodiment of an outer perspective andcross-section of a temple assembly and earhorn assembly is shown in FIG.5A and FIG. 5B, respectively, including connector and pin assembly 510A,wherein the ear horn is in its final secured position and ready to beput on the head of a user FIG. 5C and FIG. 5D illustrate the ear horn308 and the temple section 304 in a secure, but separated and un-rotatedposition. The same pin 402 and connector 408 system described inconnection with FIG. 4 is illustrated in the cross sections of FIG. 5Eand FIG. 5F at connector and pin assembly 512. In the secured un-rotatedposition the pin is pulled internally within the temple section firmlysuch that it stays in place. FIG. 5C and FIG. 5D illustrate a statewhere the ear horn 308 is separated from the temple section 304. Thisstate is achieved when pressure is used to pull on the ear horn 308. Inembodiments, the pressure is exerted by a user pulling on the ear horn308, which compresses a spring in the connector and pin assembly 510Bthat is mechanically associated with the pin 402 in the ear horn 308.The mechanism uses the spring to maintain pressure on the pin 402 tomaintain connection with the connector 408 when the connector 408 is ina position to lock the pin 402 in position. FIG. 5E and FIG. 5Fillustrates a state where, after the ear horn 308 has been pulled intothe state described in connection with FIG. 5C and FIG. 5D, the ear horn308 is rotated about the pin 402. This puts the ear horn 308 in arotated position as described herein such that the first arm, with thisrotated ear horn 308, does not interfere with the closure of the otherarm 310 when the two arms are folded into the closed position. FIG. 5Eand FIG. 5F illustrates the connector and pin assembly as continuing tosecure the ear horn 308 to the temple 304 in the rotated position.

An aspect of the present invention relates to an adjustable nose bridge.An adjustable nose bridge may be important with head worn computers,especially those with computer displays, to ensure comfort and alignmentof the displays and/or other portions of the head worn computer. FIG. 6illustrates a HWC 102 with an adjustable nose bridge 602. The nosebridge is adjustable through a mechanism in the HWC 102. In embodiments,the mechanism includes a fixed notched attachment 604, a movable pin 608adapted to fit into the notches of the notched attachment 604, and aselection device 610 that is attached to the movable pin 608. Themovable pin 608 and nose bridge 602 are connected such that the as themovable pin 608 shifts in position the nose bridge 602 moves in positionas well. The selection device 610 causes the movable pin 608 to engageand disengage with the fixed notched attachment 604 when presses andallowed to retract. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the selection device 610is not in a pressed position so the movable pin 608 is engaged with thenotched attachment 604 such that the nose bridge is securely attached ina stable position. FIG. 7 illustrates a scenario where the selectiondevice is pressed, or activated, such that the moveable pin 608 is nolonger engaged with the fixed notched attachment 604. This allows thenose bridge 602 to move up and down with respect to the rest of the HWC102. Once the movable pin 608 aligns with a notch of the notchedattachment 604, the two parts may engage to re-secure the nose bridge inthe HWC 102.

In embodiments, a side arm of the HWC 102 may include an audio jack (notshown) and the audio jack may be magnetically attachable to the sidearm. For example, the temple section 304 or ear horn section 308 mayhave a magnetically attachable audio jack with audio signal wiresassociated with an audio system in the HWC 102. The magnetic attachmentmay include one or more magnets on one end (e.g. on the head phone endor the side arm end) and magnetically conductive material on the otherend. In other embodiments, both ends of the attachment may have magnets,of opposite polarization, to create a stronger magnetic bond for theheadphone). In embodiments, the audio signal wires or magneticconnection may include a sensor circuit to detect when the headphone isdetached from the HWC 102. This may be useful in situations where thewearer is wearing the headphones during a period when there is notconstant audio processing (e.g. listening for people to talk withperiods of silence). In embodiments, the other side's headphone may playa tone, sound, signal, etc. in the event a headphone is detached. Inembodiments, an indication of the detachment may be displayed in thecomputer display.

In embodiments, the HWC 102 may have a vibration system that vibrates toalert the wearer of certain sensed conditions. In embodiments, thevibration system (e.g. an actuator that moves quickly to cause vibrationin the HWC 102) may be mounted in a side arm (e.g. the temple section304, or ear horn 308), in the top mount 312, etc. In embodiments, thevibration system may be capable of causing different vibration modesthat may be indicative of different conditions. For example, thevibration system may include a multi-mode vibration system,piezo-electric vibration system, variable motor, etc., that can beregulated through computer input and a processor in the HWC 102 may sendcontrol signals to the vibration system to generate an appropriatevibration mode. In embodiments, the HWC 102 may be associated with otherdevices (e.g. through Bluetooth, WiFi, etc.) and the vibratory controlsignals may be associated with sensors associated with the other device.For example, the HWC 102 may be connected to a car through Bluetoothsuch that sensor(s) in the car can cause activation of a vibration modefor the vibration system. The car, for example, may determine that arisk of accident is present (e.g. risk of the driver falling asleep, cargoing out of its lane, a car in front of the wearer is stopped orslowing, radar in the car indicates a risk, etc.) and the car's systemmay then send a command, via the Bluetooth connection, to the HWC 102 tocause a vibratory tone to be initiated in the HWC 102.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a removable andreplaceable speaker assembly for a HWC 102. There are times whendifferent speaker types are desired or when a speaker may malfunction.It is therefore desirable to have a speaker assembly that is removableand replaceable by the user. To facilitate the removal and reattachmentof the speaker assembly a magnetic or magnetic attachment system may beincluded. For example, the speaker assembly and head-worn computer mayinclude magnetic elements such that the speaker can be removed byexerting pressure and replaced by getting the two sections close to oneanother. In another example, the speaker or head-worn computer may havea button, slider, etc. that can be interacted with to remove thespeaker. In embodiments, the speaker assembly may have a form factor ofan ear bud, ear phone, head phone, head set, external ear speaker, etc.In embodiments, the speaker assembly may include a vibratory system toprovide haptic feedback to the user. In embodiments, such a removableand replaceable speaker system may be provided to both of the user'sears.

FIG. 8 illustrates several embodiments where HWC 102's are associatedwith speaker systems. Earbud 802 may be removably attached to the HWC102 with a magnetic system or mechanical system or combination thereof.Speaker 804 may also be removably attached to the HWC 102 in a similarway. The speaker 804 may be positioned to emit sound towards the user'sear but not actually be positioned in the ear. This configuration mayprovide for greater environmental hearing for the user as the ear wouldnot be blocked by an ear bud, head phone, etc. The speaker 804 maygenerate audio waves and/or ultrasonic waves that are converted intoaudio when they are emitted through the air. When ultrasonic transducersare used, more than one frequency transducer may be included. Seehttp://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_from_ultrasound andhttp://www.holosonics.com for references on generating sound fromultrasound. The speaker and/or piezo vibratory system 808 is depicted asintegrated into the temple. In embodiments, this module may beintegrated such that it can be removed and replaced and it may also beadapted such that it does not hang below the temple piece. Each of theremovable and replaceable speaker systems described herein may include avibratory system (e.g. piezo electric circuit that is controlled by theHWC 102.

In embodiments, a head-worn computer may include a temple portionmechanically secured to a computer display and adapted to position thecomputer display in front of an eye of a user, and the temple portionincluding a speaker attachment, wherein the speaker attachment isadapted to securely position a speaker assembly and electricallyassociate the speaker assembly with electronics internal to thehead-worn computer and facilitate the user's release and re-securing ofthe speaker assembly with the temple portion. The speaker attachment mayinclude a magnetic element, moveable mechanical element, etc. orcombination thereof to secure and unsecure the speaker system from theHWC 102. The speaker assembly may have a form factor adapted to beinserted into an outer ear of the user, cover at least a portion of anouter ear of the user, cover substantially all of an outer ear of theuser, to position the speaker under the temple assembly and above an earof the user, to position a speaker under the temple assembly and infront of an ear of the user, angle the speaker towards the ear, etc. Thespeaker system may further have a vibratory system to provide hapticfeedback to the user. The haptic feedback may be coordinated with a gamebeing presented in the computer display, an application running on theHWC 102, etc. In embodiments, a vibratory system is provided in bothspeaker systems to provide controllable haptic feedback in stereo and/oron both or either side of the user's head.

In embodiments, the connection between the speaker system and the HWC102 may be positioned other than under the temple section. It may bepositioned on a side, top, bottom, end of a section of the side arm, forexample. It may be positioned on the front bridge, for example. Inembodiments, the speaker system may be connected to a top or sideportion and the speaker may be further positioned to face forward, awayfrom the user's ear. This may be a useful configuration for providingsound to others. For example, such a configuration may be used when theuser wants to provide translations to a person nearby. The user mayspeak in a language, have the language translated, and then spokenthrough the forward facing speakers.

The removable nature of the speaker systems may be desirable forbreakaway situations so a snag does not tear the glasses from the useror pull hard on the user's ear. The removable nature may also be usefulfor modularity configurations where the user wants to interchangespeaker types or attach other accessories. For example, the user maywant ear buds at one point and an open ear speaker configuration atanother point and the user may be able to make the swap with ease giventhis configuration. The port on the HWC 102 may also be adapted forother accessories that include lights or sensors for example. Theaccessory may have an ambient light sensor to assist with the control ofthe lighting and contrast systems used in the HWC 102 displays, forexample. In embodiments, the speaker port may be used as a charging portfor the HWC 102 or data port for the HWC 102.

Although embodiments of HWC have been described in language specific tofeatures, systems, computer processes and/or methods, the appendedclaims are not necessarily limited to the specific features, systems,computer processes and/or methods described. Rather, the specificfeatures, systems, computer processes and/or and methods are disclosedas non-limited example implementations of HWC. All documents referencedherein are hereby incorporated by reference.

We claim:
 1. A head-worn computer, comprising: a temple portion mechanically secured to a computer display and adapted to position the computer display in front of an eye of a user; the temple portion including a speaker securely positioned in the temple portion and electrically associated with electronics internal to the head-worn computer; and a haptics vibration system mounted in the temple portion adapted to be controlled by the head-worn computer, wherein the vibration system includes a piezo circuit.
 2. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback is associated with a game being presented in the computer display.
 3. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback is associated with an application executing on the head-worn computer.
 4. The head-worn computer of claim 1, wherein a second vibration system is provided proximate a second ear of the user.
 5. The head-worn computer of claim 1, further comprising an ear horn portion, wherein the ear horn portion is mechanically adapted to be positioned on top of an ear of the user, wherein the ear horn portion is mounted on the temple portion and user removable from the temple portion.
 6. The head-worn computer of claim 5, wherein the ear horn section is secured to the temple section with a position lockable fastener.
 7. The head-worn computer of claim 6, wherein the position lockable fastener comprises a rotatable fastener. 